China encourages Iran to pursue nuclear negotiations

BEIJING, April 9 (Reuters) - China wants Iran and other powers to pursue contacts aimed at eventually defusing a long-running dispute over Tehran's nuclear activities, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said on Wednesday they would ask EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Tehran to talks to find "a diplomatic solution" to Iran's nuclear programme.

China, host of six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme, is a close energy and trade partner with Iran, and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said her government welcomed the signs of renewed engagement.

"We are glad to see an improvement in relations between the United States and Iran," Jiang told a news conference. "We encourage Iran and other parties to have active contacts to seek an all-round, appropriate and long-term solution to the Iran nuclear issue." (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Chris Buckley; Editing by Nick Macfie)